Miners and security clash in Suriname
For the past 4 years, we have been servicing
the community with dignity and compassion.
We look forward to the future providing
the same excellent service.
F U N E R A L H O M E
Serving the Community with Dignity
We have one of the Largest Chapels in the New York City area
We provide Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services
We offer great pricing and you can depend on our professionalism
Valet Parking Available
Caribbean L 18 ife, Aug. 2–8, 2019 BQ
TEL:
tensions and hundreds of angry miners
descended on the capital on Tuesday,
lining up outside parliament demanding
answers.
Successive administrations have
grappled with the issue as to what to
do with large groups of small wildcat
miners panning for gold on the borders
of large mines. The trouble, is in this
instance, is that villages such as Nieuw
Koffi Camp and others near the mine
remain angry about being dislocated
every time authorities think they should
do so.
Decades ago, about 2000 people
were relocated about 40 miles north
to allow the area to be flooded as
part of the Afobaka Hydro Dam. More
recently, once gold was found in the
area, they were again pushed aside
and discommoded to allow for mine
development.
So anger and resentment have
simmered among the descendants of
runaway Maroon slaves for decades. At
least one organized group has reached
agreement with mine officials about
working in a formal way in areas near
the mine but these have been constantly
infiltrated by miners from other areas,
attracted by what is referred to as a gold
shout.
This week, tensions boiled over
again about disorganization and illegal
mining leading to clashes with police
and mine security. When the dust
cleared after authorities opened fire,
one man was killed and a few others
hospitalized. Colleagues descended on
parliament, demanding that authorities
put pressure on Rosebel to both take
care of funeral expenses and arrange for
some kind of a long term deal to take
care of the dead miner’s family.
As tensions grew, management
not only closed the mine, but ferried
out hundreds of workers, saying their
safety was not guaranteed. Police said
miners caused extensive damage to
property and equipment belonging to
the company.
Wesley Rozenhout, the chair of the
Federation of Small Miners blamed
authorities for not properly organizing
small miners and giving them,
guarantees about a decent livelihood.
“It was to be expected that such
an outburst would happen with tragic
consequences.” He said heavily armed
police had been deployed to other areas
to expel small miners working to take
care of families. Their equipment and
personal belongings were destroyed,”
he said.
Makamboa, the main organized group
which had reached mining agreements
with Rosebel for small miners, blamed
infiltration by illegal miners and those
from outside the district, for the chaos
of this week.
“The entrepreneurs of Makamboa
believe in dialogue and therefore call
on parties to look for solutions through
dialogue to stop the situation that has
arisen and to ensure that all operations
on the plant can progress in a safe and
productive atmosphere in the interest
of the sector.”
The latest developments are not
good news for the administration of
President Desi Bouterse who faces a
general election next May. Polls show
that his National Democratic Party may
struggled to win a majority of 26 of
the 51 seats as the Hindustani VHP
and other parties are gaining ground
and are capatilizing on the mistakes of
government.
Continued from Page 1
In this photo taken Aug. 13, 2010, miner Juergen Plein, 29, speaks with the
Associated Press at an open gold mine pit near the small town of Nieuw
Koffi ekamp on the edge of the Suriname’s rainforest. Plein said he needs
the work, and doesn’t know any other way to get at the precious metal.
Associated Press / Andres Leighton, File